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A Finger Lakes Beer Trail? Yes, there is one and state taxpayers are providing their support

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Beer on the bottling line at the Ithaca Beer Co., one of more than 30 breweries in the Finger Lakes region. Ithaca Beer, off Route 13 south of the city, underwent a major expansion in 2013, tripling its production capacity and opening a new onsite brewpub.
(Stephen D. Cannerelli / Post-Standard FILE PHOTO)

Roughly one-third of the more than 100 breweries in New York state are located in the Finger Lakes region -- assuming you expand the notion of the Finger Lakes to include the Syracuse and Rochester areas, and the cities and towns below the lakes in the Southern Tier.

For the past several years, Theresa Hollister and Adam Smith have tried to get a handle on the booming brewery scene in the region, with a project they call the Finger Lakes Beer Trail.

They've published maps (which need to be updated frequently), and maintain a web site that lists brewery and bar information and a calendar of beer-related events.

Last week, they received word they they will receive a $198,000 grant to support their promotion of the local beer industry through the state's regional economic development program. The grant is designed to help the beer trail promote the region as a beer destination. (The state has long supported New York's various winery trails).

In the Finger Lakes Beer Trail grant application, Hollister and Smith wrote the region's beer industry contributes "to an economic impact of $1.5 billion and support for approximately 9,400 jobs in the (Finger Lakes) region."

Hollister and Smith, who have been operating without paid employees for the past few years, will use part of the grant to hire a staffer to help in the business of promoting the breweries and marketing beer-related tourism.

"Overall, trail-based programs are a great way to increase tourism and increase exposure for a particular market segment," they wrote in the application. "They are structured to encourage roaming – moving people from one location to the next – which increases the amount of tourism dollars infused into the local economy (gas, food, lodging, etc.). And, given the emerging trend of beer tourism, coupled with an aggressive marketing campaign, the Finger Lakes Beer Trail is positioned to serve as a significant contributor to the area’s sustainable tourism strategy."

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